The Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas is to be the subject of a new verbatim play Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage that will premiere at Cardiff's Sherman Theatre, beginning performances Feb. 19, 2015, prior to an official opening Feb. 23, for a run through to March 7, with further dates across Wales, England and in London to be announced.

Co-produced by Out of Joint, National Theatre Wales and London's Arcola Theatre with Sherman Cymru, it is written by Robin Soans and directed by Max Stafford Clark. On the eve of one of the most important games of his career, the player received a warning: The Sun newspaper was going to "out" him as gay. This is the story of two Welsh names bruised, but not beaten, by media speculation; Gareth "Alfie" Thomas, 100 caps for Wales, once its captain, now the world’s most prominent gay sportsman; and his hometown, Bridgend.

Working with Alfie himself, and young people in Bridgend, Out of Joint and National Theatre Wales have partnered to tell a story about sport, politics, secrets, life and learning to be yourself.